Washington Square District

The Washington Square District (or Wash West), which roughly corresponds to the area between 7th and Broad Streets and between Walnut and South Street, is a mostly residential neighborhood known for fine historic houses, colorful shops, murals, cozy coffee shops, and gay-owned businesses.

Washington Square also is home to Antique Row, which consists of dozens of antique shops that cater to seasoned and novice collectors alike, from Colonial-era furniture, custom-designed glass, rare books, jewelry, vintage clothing, and folk art. Wash West has several theaters, churches, and hospitals, including the nation’s oldest Pennsylvania Hospital.

Washington Square History

The name “Washington Square West” came into official use in the late 1950s and early 1960s as part of a comprehensive plan for Center City. The south-east quadrant of Center City was split into Washington Square East (more commonly knows as Society Hill) and Washington Square West.

The neighborhood takes its name from Washington Square, the urban park on its eastern boundary. Having served as a cemetery for 90 years until the late 18th century, revolutionary soldiers and prisoners of war were buried in massive pits here. Today, the park’s centerpiece is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with a statue of Washington which was erected as a tribute to those who fought in the Revolutionary War.

By the middle of the 1800s, Washington Square had become a high-class residential neighborhood. Today, Washington Square is surrounded by high-rise buildings and colonial mansions making it an in-demand area for young professionals, long time Philadelphia residents, and new families.